St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-30
$1s,65O
The Record.
LAST WEEKS TRANSFERS.
BURLEsQUE ACTRESSES.
Qualifications for Their Profession
and the Difficulties Attending
Their Discovery,

and the Difficulties Attending
Their Discovery.
st. Louis Republican.
NTANTED-Three or four fine-formed
w ladies to join the - burlesque COM
pany; experience not necessary. Apply to
II. II. Mortimer. Laclede hotel, between 8
and 10 o'clock; room 1S.
Curious to know something of the
methods of examination in such cases
and of the character of the ladies who
would answer an advertisement of this
kind in st. Louis, a Republican reporter
sought an interview with Mr.. Mortimer
in his room at the Laclede yesterday
afternoon. 1.-THE public" said Mr.. Nor
timer, "have mistaken idea as to tn e
methods of examining applicants for
burleSque honOrS. They imagine that a
girl must throw aside all modesty
on entering our presence. SO
far as l am concerned, and
l can say the same of every
reputable burlesque manager, nothing
can be farther from the truth. The mo-
ment a girl enters that door l can judge
pretty correctly as to her fitness, so far
flied otherwise give her pass to the
stage door of the theater, with instruc-
tons to the stage manager to put her on
if she is all right. He furnishes her
with tights and sends her off to a room
to dress, and if he is satisfied, after in
SpectiOn, he sends her on the stage. If
not, he sends word to me that she won't
do-pipe stems, no proportion, or some
thing of that sOrt-and l have him tell
the girl to put on her street dress and
come down in front and see the per-
Torrance. l allow her that return for
her trouble. If she is professional l
have Miss Adams examine her."
PECULIAR QUALIFICATIONS.
"What qualifications are necessary be-
sides good form?'
them around. They cannot receive
company in their rooms of evenings, and
must all leave the theater and go to the
hotel together. Unless they can leave
liquor alone and agree to these cOndi-
tons, don't want them. You see l
have only recently taken the manage
ment of this company. Not having been
employed by me, the girls at present in
the company are apt to forget the re-
Spect that is due to my orders, and it
is necessary for me to introduce a few
new girls, who feel especially respon-
sible to me for their positions and their
actions, and who will act as check on
the others. That is why am advertis-
ing. A great many people imagine that
burlesque manager has high old time
living in clover, so to speak. This is
another mistake. You see l am stop
at the st. James. l never stop at the
same hotel with them. / have to avoid
any familiarity with them. If l lose
the respect of my company / lose all
control over them and / might as well
THROW UP MY HANDS AND QUIT.
1t Is the same in dramatic management,
in which have been for eighteen years.
If drink with one of the actors, take
him out riding and invite him up to my
room Of evenings, he gets to thinking
Pm Indispensable The other mem
bers of the company get jealous, and the
dickens is to pay generally. You can
easily see why it is absolutely necessary
for manager to avoid all notice of any
member Of his company except in a
business way"
GLOW many applications have you had
to-day?"
''Ten, out of which / took one. The
others either drank, were bothered with
lovers, or had no form. The one l ac-
cepted was amOdeSt-appearing girl, who
was apparently we'll formed"
"'Have you ever been on the Stage?'
1 asked.
"'No, SIR
"'Do you know anything about the
stage?'
.''No, SIR
care your father and mother living?'
i am all orphan; live with my
aunt
'Well,'I said to her, here's a pass
to the theater for the matinee to-mor-
row. You go there, see how the girls
dress and how you would have to dress
if 1 employed you. You must decide for
yourself whether you think you can APP
pear daily in such costume, with all
the temptations that will be around
YOU
"'Why? What is it?' she asked.
"'That is all I have to tell you. I
merely wanted to open your eyes. If
you think you would like to go with us,
come around tomorrow afternoon after
the matinee::and will send you to Miss
Adams. who will see if your form is
satisfactory
''She may and she may not show up.
It's hard to tell"